Judges 2:11-23
Israel repeatedly abandoned God to chase after Baal and Ashtoreth. Although God was filled with anger, He could not ignore their groans under the oppression of their enemies. His mercy, shown through raising judges to save them, was boundless. Yet, the shocking truth is that as soon as a judge died, Israel returned to ways even more corrupt than before. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn, rebellious ways.
This passage causes me to look deep within my own soul once again. I examine whether there are still evil practices and stubborn habits residing in me. Breaking a bad habit is not merely a matter of willpower; it is a matter of one’s fundamental attitude toward the Essence. The reason Israel turned back only while a judge was present was that they lacked true love for God.
Today, I humble myself before God’s mercy. Empowered by the great love that never gives up on me, I resolve to identify and sever the stubborn habits deeply rooted in my life, one by one. My only desire is to be like Jesus. Longing to reflect His image and walk the path of righteousness on this earth, I prostrate myself before His Word once again today.